Chapter 309 - No Matter What (1/2)

Carlisle shot a glance towards Zenard standing outside, and Elena gave a nod of her head and answered.

“I think I should look into it.”

Carlisle looked regretfully at Elena and kissed her on the forehead.

“…It’s hard to get you all to myself.”

She could not help but smile at the longing in his words. After the war with the Duchy of Lunen, Elena and Carlisle spent many leisurely hours alone as they traveled. She found it silly that he expressed dissatisfaction at every small disturbance, yet she found it endearing at the same time.

Carlisle released Elena from his embrace and spoke in a soft voice.

“Bring the letter.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

With permission given, Zenard stepped into the tent. He noticed Carlisle’s resentment, however, and quickly apologized.

“I seem to have interrupted your private time. I’m sorry.”

“You should be.”

Elena quickly poked Carlisle in the ribs for his remark, then turned towards Zenard.

“Thank you. These are the letters I’ve been waiting for.”

“Not at all. It was delivered to the Imperial Palace first before arriving here, so they are late. Please take that into consideration, and let me know if there’s anything you need.”

“I will.”

Zenard handed the two letters to Elena, bowed politely, and left the tent. She watched Zenard’s retreating figure, then soon looked down at the envelopes, where the seals of the Krauss and Astar families were stamped on them respectively. Her heart was in her throat, and she was nervous to check the contents.

‘I hope it has some good information in it.’

Overall, it didn’t matter if she couldn’t remove the curse from the Imperial Family. She loved Carlisle so much that her feelings towards him weren’t affected by it, and she also considered the child growing inside her to be precious. Apart from that, however, her heart lamented over Carlisle’s unhappy childhood and the hatred he carried for the black scales.

And so, Elena wanted to remove the curse as much as possible. If their child were to inherit it, it would be quite painful for Carlisle as well. She didn’t know how much guilt he would feel passing on the curse to his own child.

As she stared moodily at the letters, Carlisle, who was watching her from the side, gave her a questioning look.

“What kind of letters are those?”

Elena was interrupted from her bleak thoughts, and she raised her head to look at Carlisle. His blue eyes were filled with worry, and her gaze couldn’t leave his perfectly sculpted face. It was the face of the man she loved, the one she imagined over and over whenever times were difficult.

She held the letters in her hand, then pointed to the bedside where she was sitting.

“Come sit down here.”

Carlisle’s expression hardened suspiciously, but he sat down where she indicated without complaint.

“What is it?”

“There’s no reason to be nervous. I just thought it would be a good idea to talk this over with you before I opened these letters.”

“Yes. You can tell me anything.”

Elena couldn’t help but smile as Carlisle waited expectantly for her story.

“In truth, as soon as I found out I was pregnant, I made a request to the heads of the Krauss and Astar families. There is a tribe that worships the sacred dragon. Maybe you’ve heard of them.”

“…”

Carlisle’s expression turned guarded. He always withdrew when he heard stories about his cursed blood. He stared at Elena for a moment, then lowered his eyes and looked at her stomach.

“You wouldn’t have to worry if it weren’t for me. I’m sorry…”

“No, don’t say that. I don’t want you to apologize from now on.”

Elena grasped Carlisle’s hand, which was much larger than hers. His hands were roughened and calloused from years of holding a sword, but to Elena, they were strong and friendly. Warmth bloomed at where they touched, and she continued.

“No matter the contents of these letters, I will do my best to break this curse. But don’t misunderstand. Even if I do this for you and our child, it doesn’t mean that I dislike you. Even if I can’t find a way to end this curse…it won’t change anything.”

Carlisle’s eyes swam with complicated emotions, but Elena’s gaze was steady as she looked straight at him.

“I love you. No matter what you are.”

She slowly raised her hand to cup his perfect face.

“Even your scales look impressive to me.”

Carlisle remained silent for some time. However, he did not look as conflicted as before, as if a heavy burden had been relieved from his mind. He looked up at Elena with a tender gaze and smiled. She was the only one in the world that ever saw him look like this.

“You are quite the incredible woman, my wife. I didn’t think I could be any happier, but here I am.”

Carlisle took Elena’s hand that was on his face, and pressed his lips against it as he looked at her.

“I’m glad that I met you. And I’m glad that you are the woman I fell in love with.”

A soft smile glimmered on Elena’s lips.

“I feel the same way. And you don’t know how grateful I am to carry the dragon’s blood with me after I was kidnapped.”

Elena endured many physical hardships while in the early stages of pregnancy, and even ended up riding on horseback and fighting Paveluc. The child never would have survived the difficult journey if it were weak.

“A normal child wouldn’t be able to bear it. I believe our child is healthy because they resemble you, and so they stayed with me until the end. Because of that, I could never give up.”

Even if she killed Paveluc and ended the war, Elena didn’t think she would smile as she did now if something went wrong with the pregnancy. She was immeasurably grateful that the child in her stomach was still safe. Carlisle replied with a smile.

“It seems that the little thing already understands its filial duty to its parents.”

Elena gave a small chuckle, then waved the two envelopes in her hand.

“So, shall we take a look?”

“Alright.”

At last, Elena opened the envelope with Krauss’ seal on it and pulled the letter out. Elena and Carlisle both read the letter at the same time.

[To Her Majesty the Empress.